Robert Douras Takes an Early 2026 National Poker League Lead

The 2026 Nationwide Poker League (NPL) is lower than three months previous, however its leaderboard is already full of acquainted names. Following the latest Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) Manchester pageant, Robert Douras finds his identify on the prime of the pile, having amassed 186.03 factors, sufficient for a slim lead over Bryan Taylor (169.39) and Brandon Sheils (143.51).

Those that comply with the GUKPT and 888poker UKPL could also be questioning why Sheils is not main the best way after his spectacular GUKPT London Predominant Occasion and Excessive Curler double on the flip of the 12 months. This has occurred as a result of the NPL makes use of gamers’ 20 finest outcomes over the course of the 12 months, and Douras has managed 17 qualifying cashes to Sheils’ eight. Solely Bryan Taylor and Calogero Morreale have hit double figures to this point.

Douras’ greatest case of the season so far got here on the latest GUKPT Manchester pageant. He completed 18th within the Predominant Occasion for a £3,380 rating. A day previous to that end result, Douras was the runner-up within the £200 No-Restrict Maintain’em Turbo for £2,220.

Scotland’s Bryan Taylor occupies second place within the NPL standings as he continues his transition from money video games to tournaments. Final October, Taylor received the GUKPT Edinburgh Predominant Occasion for a career-best $43,920. This 12 months, Taylor banked £13,910 for a fourth-place end within the £340 Mini Predominant at GUKPT London and one other £6,610 when he completed seventh within the £2,500 Excessive Curler on the similar cease. He additionally reached the UKPL Luton Predominant Occasion closing desk, however needed to make do with an eighth-place end price £5,020.

The aforementioned Sheils was quick out of the blocks in 2026 with a double victory at GUKPT London. Sheils’ Predominant Occasion and Excessive Curler victories earned him a mixed £138,320. He adopted that brace of outcomes with a runner-up end within the £1,100 UKPC Excessive Curler for £20,500, though this doesn’t depend in the direction of the NPL. Sheils had a GUKPT Manchester to neglect, however everybody is aware of that kind is short-term and that class is everlasting.

The remaining prime 10 are grouped collectively and can stay that method till every has at the least 20 qualifying outcomes. Tai Hoang (134.57), Calogero Morreale (134.31), Mariusz Czech (112.33), Yucel Eminoglu (111.69), Keith Littlewood (109.77), Wendy Watson (108.62), and Chris Balmforth (105.81) make up the present prime 10 as of March 13.

NPL 2026 Leaderboard

Excessive Curler League Standings

Chris Balmforth is the person to catch within the early Excessive Curler League standings. Balmforth’s first Hendon Mob entry solely got here in late August 2025, however he has already made a reputation for himself.

Up to now in 2026, Balmforth has a fourth-place end within the £1,100 PLO Excessive Curler at GUKPT London, an eighth-place end within the £2,500 GUKPT Coventry Excessive Curler, a third-place end within the GUKPT Manchester £1,100 PLO Excessive Curler, and a third-place end within the £1,500 GUKPT Manchester Excessive Curler.

Low Curler League Standings

Douras is a runaway chief within the Low Curler League, with a lead of virtually 49 factors. The 2026 NPL chief is racking up in-the-money finishes like they are going out of trend. Can he maintain onto this benefit within the coming weeks and months?

Gamers have ample alternatives to build up factors throughout all three leaderboards, because of qualifying tournaments operating across the clock. These embody G200 and G300, Goliath, the Behemoth, 888poker UKPL, and GUKPT occasions, each dwell and on-line.

The subsequent GUKPT cease runs from April 9-19 on the luxurious The Victoria within the coronary heart of London.

Matthew Pitt hails from Leeds, West Yorkshire, in the UK, and has labored within the poker trade since 2008, and labored for PokerNews since 2010. In September 2010, he turned the editor of PokerNews. Matthew stepped away from dwell reporting duties in 2015, and now concentrates on his position of Senior Editor for the PokerNews.